NEW BUILD | REPURPOSING POWER SITES Although not considered in this analysis, three retired
sites are also under consideration for restarting an existing unit, with a combined capacity of 2.2 GWe. There is an overlap of five sites that include both
cancelled units and proposed COL units. For the analysis, the plan with the highest proposed nameplate capacity was associated with these sites. Merging data for cancelled plants with the COL proposal data yields a combined 20 sites with a potential for 31 reactor units. According to the report, these 31 large LWR units would have a capacity of 37.9 GWe based on the original plans by the utilities. In addition, 18 of these 20 sites are deemed to have the potential to site 72 generic reactor technologies rated at 600 MWe each for a total of 43.2 GWe. The remaining 34 current nuclear power plant sites were
evaluated using data from the OR-SAGE tool consistent with the NRC’s General Site Suitability Criteria and EPRI siting guidance. Again, these sites were assessed for factors such as nearby population density, land preserved for public use, availability of adequate cooling water, unacceptable seismic or fault hazards, nearby wetlands or flood hazards, and risk from hazardous facilities such as major airports, military sites, and chemical facilities, among other parameters. The results were used to perform analysis on the potential to site a small modular reactor or a large reactor at each of these sites. Overall, 17 of the 34 sites were deemed to have the potential to host a single- or dual-unit LWR installation.
Two of the 17 units identified are large enough to host an additional single- or /dual-unit LWR installation for a total of 21.2 GWe. In each case the power projections are conservative, the authors note, assuming only one additional large LWR for cases in which space is judged to be available. Additionally, 23 of these 34 sites are deemed to have the potential to site a total of 79 generic reactor technologies rated at 600 MWe each (47.4 GWe) on 50-acre (20 Ha) footprints. The analysis indicates that at the 54 currently operating
NPP sites, there could be up to 37 NPP sites with the potential to host an additional large reactor and up to 41 NPP sites with the potential to host smaller 600 MWe reactor technologies.
Scope for nuclear new build The report concludes that potentially some 290 units of 600 MWe or more could be installed at 145 coal-fired power plant sites across 36 states with a combined capacity of 174 GWe. Of these 145 sites that may be amenable for siting nuclear, the analysis confirmed that 115 of the sites, nearly 80%, have the potential to site a large LWR rated at 1,117 MWe and 136 sites or 94% have the potential to site a large LWR rated at 1,000 MWe. All 145 sites identified have the potential to site a generic 600 MWe advanced reactor. Focusing on recently retired coal plants, operating coal plants with announced retirement dates, and operating coal plants with no announced retirement date, this represents replacement power for existing or recently retired coal plants and would substantially reduce carbon emissions.
In addition to the coal-fired plant opportunity the report
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also identifies opportunities for new nuclear capacity with the current fleet of 94 operating nuclear plants on 54 sites in 28 states as well as 11 retired nuclear sites that could also be suitable for new nuclear development. The analysis concludes that there is potential for 158 locations that could support 600 MWe units with a combined capacity of 95 GWe. There are also 54 sites that could support deployment of 1,117 MWe units with a combined capacity of 60 GWe. Of these, the analysis of 20 of these sites is based on cancelled units or those where a COL was submitted to the NRC and of the remaining 34 sites, 17 were evaluated to have the potential to site one or more large LWR units. This evaluation thus estimates that an additional 60–95 GWe could be built at existing nuclear power plant sites across 31 states. Of the 54 operating NPP sites that may be amenable for siting additional nuclear, 37, nearly 70% may be amenable to siting an additional large LWR. In addition, 41 sites, 76% may be amenable to siting a generic 600 MWe advanced reactor technology. The analysis concludes that locating new nuclear power plants or technologies at a current nuclear power plant site is advantageous because communities surrounding these plants already support nuclear energy, know the safety culture, and are aware of continuous strict environmental monitoring of areas surrounding the plants. Furthermore, the communities benefit from better air and water quality, high-paying jobs associated with the nuclear power plants, as well as the benefits that a higher tax base provides. Locating replacement nuclear power plants or technologies at an existing coal-fired power plants is beneficial because it takes advantage of existing infrastructure and grid access, and it also maintains jobs. ■
44 | February 2025 |
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